The cost of care for federal inmates at Hernando County Detention Center has increased. According to an official press release from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, the facility has secured a new federal per diem rate. Effective last Friday, the rate is set at $116 per inmate per day, up from the previous $75 rate established in 2020.
While the detention center anticipates generating over $20,000 daily based on the current inmate population, amounting to an estimated $7.3 million annually, Pasco County Corrections, operating under a previous agreement, remains at a $95 per diem rate until the next fiscal year. After negotiations with the federal government, Hernando County secured a 55 percent increase from the 2020 rate, boosting their projected annual revenue by approximately $2.2 million.
As reported by the Hernando Sheriff's Office, the $29.6 million generated so far in inmate housing revenue from outside jurisdictions breaks down as follows: $574,957 from the Federal Bureau of Prisons; $7.7 million from Pasco County Corrections; and the largest portion, $21.4 million, from the United States Marshals Service.
The increasing revenues are designated to support jail operations, including funding for 23 full-time staff positions, as well as capital repairs and infrastructure projects. While housing inmates from other jurisdictions places additional demands on detention center staff, Sheriff Al Nienhuis emphasized that the additional income helps maintain a safe and secure facility and reduces the tax burden on local residents.
Looking ahead, Hernando County’s new agreement is expected to impact neighboring Pasco County in October 2026, when their inmate per diem rate will also increase to $116, matching the federal standard.
